VODAFONE FTTH SPEED FLUCTUATIONS

Gooser14

I am experiencing some issues with our Vodafone 500 Mb FTTH of late. Of late the download speeds are fluctuating widely, via Wi-Fi and cable connection, when tested on Ookla Speed Test depending on the test server used. For example, using Vodafone.ie as the test server I am getting download speeds ranging from 18.6 to 71.1 Mbps. However, if I use the Three Ireland, Eir or BT Ireland servers I am getting speeds of between 360 and 475 Mbps.

The poor speeds are causing buffeting when using our Firestick.

Has anyone experienced this and if so, is there a solution.  

Glaceon

Some of the speedtest servers are crap, if it picks PQ.hosting or Warian I never get a good score, but always do from the likes of Blacknight or BT Ireland.

BeerFarts

Are you sure it's the connection causing buffering on the firestick and not the TV service/streaming app you're using?

Gooser14

It could well be the streaming service. I can view in SD ok but HD buffets all the time.

jj880

you rebooted router?

Gooser14

Yes, several times.

pablo don

Hi all

Any resolution to this from Vodafone, currently having same issue, Vodafone are useless and sent out tech who cancelled 3 times and then left new modem at my door and ran.

Cant watch anything at all, as it just buffering.vodafone just keep saying line is fine and their latest one is that eir are restricting them on their lines/, network.

jj880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121947461#Comment_121947461

In the Dodgy Box Clampdown thread a user got over this by getting a new router (TP Link Archer AX55) to replace Vodafone's Gigabox router. Have a read here:

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121930494#Comment_121930494

Gooser14

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121947883#Comment_121947883

In my case, the problem seems to have been resolved. I don't know whether the ISP found a fault & fixed it or what.

The lips

I am having the same issue with vodafone. Download speed was consistently 450mb+ on wifi speedtest app tests.

Now it goes as low as 18mb on tests. Vodafone Customer support have said it is a nationwide issue and I will be credited when the issue is rectified. I am out of contract about 6 weeks and have now cancelled the direct debit as it has gone from €30 pm to €45pm, reluctant to renew until rectified.

Streaming skips, kids gaming dropping off etc.

DopeTech

if out of contract just move to another provider. sky and pure are both €30 for 12 months 500mb package. Both very reliable.

turbbo

Noticed same here. Started using my own router and i get correct speeds - that gigabox has some issue but they aren't admitting it. Supposed to have a "technician" calling out in a weeks time not sure what magic they are supposed to perform.

jj880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121984602#Comment_121984602

My parents have VF 500mb fibre. Ive noticed with their fibre if you dont split out the 2.4ghz and 5ghz frequencies into seperate SSIDs that certain devices wont even connect to it. Some features of the gigabox (standard features in most other routers) are locked as upsells (the main being "super" wifi). Its pretty miserable from VF as you either pay for the upgrade, hack the gigabox (requires some tech knowledge) or buy a new router.

I have managed to have a pretty robust network using the gigabox with my network split into 2 separate SSIDs and connecting different devices to each that perform better on different frequencies.

2.4ghz gigabox wifi network 1 SSID: VODAFONE-D3H7

5ghz gigabox wifi network 2 SSID: VODAFONE-D3H75G

Might not solve issues for everyone but worth a try before buying a new router.

If you want some further reading on this look here =⇒

Full thread:

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058205336/vodafone-gigabox-unable-to-change-wifi-channel-superwifi

SSID split fix:

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118582004#Comment_118582004

aidanodr

Yip - Im in carrigaline, co. cork. On Gigabit Broadband ( Voda/Siro fibre over esb ).

Last few days all of a sudden its started randomly dropping. I also note our speed over wifi is down to mid 40s, before that was getting around 400mbps. However if i wire to the router direct I get 755mbps.

I have been using TPLINK Archer T9uh wifi dongle. Maybe thats on the fritz, however when I us my phone as a hotspot, it all works fine.

I do note for last few weeks Voda are having issues as detailed by Down detector:

turbbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121985210#Comment_121985210

Thanks for the reply - forgot to mention running tests on ethernet connection.

turbbo

Network issues - doesn't explain why it works fine with my own linksys router but not the vodafone provided one?

BuzzG

I'm seeing a variation of this and I believe it is due to an update VF must have made to the Gigabox modem because it only started happening the past month or so. Basically when the ONT / Gigabox modem reboot together say due to a power cut when the modem comes back - power, internet, phone, wifi lights illuminated and solid the speed test (Fast.com / Ookla etc.) via LAN is below 100 MB/sec where as normally it would be 500 - 600 Mb/Sec.

What I have found works is to power the Gigabit modem and ONT off. Power on the ONT and wait till 2 lights illuminated and leave it a few mins then power on the VF Gigabit modem which will cause the third ONT light to illuminate. I have had to do this twice and each time it has worked basically power on from the outside in so to speak ONT then Gigabox Modem.

Glaceon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122001621#Comment_122001621

Sounds like the ONT and Gigabox are only linking at 100 Mb when both are booted from cold. Have you tried replacing the cable between them as a test?

BuzzG

Yip swapped the cable alright. Next step is to try a different Gigabox modem.

turbbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122001621#Comment_122001621

Not even using the gigabox and there's still speed issues. This is a Vodafone problem not a router issue. Most people don't notice they are not getting the speeds advertised at all. Vodafone are con artists unfortunately.

jj880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122027376#Comment_122027376

Im on a 90Mb line with VF. Pretty sure its FTTC. Think I'll be sticking for it for a year or 2 yet. More than enough for our needs and so far reliable.

With the FTTH packages do customers think its definitely a case of VF over selling or has our broadband infrastructure been neglected and it's unable to handle the traffic? Or a combination of both?

turbbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122027431#Comment_122027431

I think Vodafone's infrastructure on the backend is crumbling under the pressure - there was a network outage at 11 this morning and my 500mb download hasn't been up over 20mbs since. No amount of rebooting is going to fix it. BTW my connection was running at 500mbs prior to the outage.

jj880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122028028#Comment_122028028

Hmmm... probably going to get worse. Everyone I know signing up to VF fibre. Granted Im in a rural area thats just been upgraded. Im out of contract with Vodafone end of May. Might leave it a few months before another contract. See how my line is at the end of Summer.

turbbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122028055#Comment_122028055

The customer support appears to be good until you need to actually resolve the problem - then it's just fob off after fob off after that. I logged a formal complaint today with VF. According to comreg recomendations I need to do that first then it's 10 days after that before I can open a case with comreg. I think I'd avoid VF like the plague if my contract was due for renewal. Although the scandal with Eir makes me wonder where to go.

Glaceon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122028078#Comment_122028078

I've had Digiweb for almost a year now, couldn't fault them.

jj880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122028094#Comment_122028094

You just reminded me I messaged them last year about their fritzbox routers. They should have them upgraded to AX by now. Will see what they're offering end of May.

Heres the email for anyone interested:

Ah-Watch

Digiwebs website does say that SIRO comes with Fastest WiFi 6 powered by FritzBox 7530 AX but it doesn't mention Fritzbox 7530 AX on OpenEir FTTH pricing or the FTTC pricing. Would definitely be worth checking with them though because I found Digiweb very good and by far the best support team of them all.

Kimbot

Vodafone have been horrendous the last month, I rang them a month ago and they were aware of an issue and apparently will be fixed in 2 days. I have to ring them again this evening as its 100% a VF issue as my speeds are now between 12mb and 20mb on a 500mb connection, its not good enough now and the last month better be refunded.

jj880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122029453#Comment_122029453

Here's what Im getting offered from digiweb for my eircode.

No SIRO offered to me but seems to include a wifi-6 Fritz!Box.

Ive always interchanged the terms wifi 6 and AX?

I'll double check when ordering in the Summer but looks like these packages include the 7530 AX router…

turbbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122029478#Comment_122029478

I've had the exact same experience Kimbot. Exact same - its the constant lies from VF support that infuriates me.

Kimbot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122030855#Comment_122030855

Well the last time I was on to them they told me to restart the router and all will be resolved, I told the agent I had done all that and that I spent 15+ years in I.T. specifically working on networks and that I was on to them as a last resort, thats when I got escalated up a level and was told they were havin problems in the area and at most would be 2 days to resolve. That was on good friday I think now. Yesterday they just fobbed me off but this evening I will be very annoyed and will get a resolution one way or another.

turbbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122030870#Comment_122030870

Yeah I'm in IT too and could see the lies.

They told me yesterday that google had an outage. I believed them until I got off the phone and searched the web to see some proof - none of course.

Also on previous calls they told me there was a fault in my area - when there actually wasn’t - I used my own router I was getting 500mbs and when I used their junk router I got 150mbs (which I suspect they are using to throttle accounts across the country).

I believe you need to use "trigger words" to actually get heard - i.e. I need to speak to your “supervisor” and I demand a “refund” for the service I've not received for the last 6/8 weeks.

Also be sure to lodge a "formal complaint" with VF, it needs to be filed for 10 days before comreg will take your case.

jj880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122029453#Comment_122029453

Fyi

Ive asked in another thread about speed / throttling issues with digiweb. If I don't get any bad reports Im ditching VF for digiweb's 1000Mb package next month. That router will be a step up for sure.

eddieoregan

I have carried out 3 speed tests on my Vodafone Fiber to the home 500 Mb, using my desktop computer, 2 tests were carried out using the Ookla Speedtest App from the Microsoft Store, & the third was carried out using Microsoft Edge & fast.com.

All 3 tests were carried out using Ethernet Cable (WIFI Turned OFF), Something is definitely wrong with Vodafone.

Test 1 Shows the correct speed Connected to the eir server in Dublin,

Test 2 Shows speed Connected to Blacknight server in Dublin

Test 3 Shows speed from fast.com

ffocused

Have any of the people with issues lately tried changing your DNS servers?

I have had Vodafone Siro for 2.5 years now with no issues, but I don’t use their router or DNS servers.

1.1.1.1 is my recommendation.

turbbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122034403#Comment_122034403

Makes no diference 1.1.1.1 is cloudflares dns you can try that and googles 8.8.8.8 - still no difference the problem is with vodafone servers - I'm guessing they have serious problems or they don't have enough bandwidth on the backend.

turbbo

Yeah - you can also run a Ookla speedtest to the same server every couple of hours so that it's a consistent test and you'll see the speed is up and down constantly. They have major issues - whats worse is they are not informing people and they continue to sell a service that is way below advertised. I'm not sure they know how to fix it. It's been going on for weeks.

Kimbot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122034649#Comment_122034649

Yeah I have logs upon logs from speedtest and all that it shows is that speed is horrendous. Like its so bad that we can watch a HD stream and it pauses most the time and instagram videos wont load at all its beyond a joke. I didnt get to ring them yesterday as I tried a few other suggestions I found first and none made an improvement. I will ring them this evening and if they dont resolve it I am going to demand they let me out of the contract as they are not providing the service I am paying for.

Jasper1965

Is the vodafone speed issue resolved?

Gooser14

Not for me. I'm having to frequently reboot the modem/router.

BuzzG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122034649#Comment_122034649

Could not agree more @turbbo. For a company their size they are absolutely terrible at keeping customers informed, they have an app for the phone which a teenager could do a better job on .. all fluff and no substance IMHO. If they were transparent and acknowledged the issues and the path to resolution and a timeframe they would save themselves a whole world of pain with customers calling their Customer Care channel over and over trying to understand when the issues will be resolved.

jj880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122028094#Comment_122028094

If you dont mind can I ask what package you have with Digiweb?

Kimbot

So on Friday I had a missed call from an 01 number, googled and it was possibly linked with vodafone. Got home and my speeds are back to normal for now :)